HMS Pinafore was first performed in 1965 and Trial was presented a year later. To honour our founder members and to continue our tradition of innovative entertainment "Trial on Pinafore" reflected the past, but with a fresh look at these two well known works. Bright colours, simple set, exciting instrumental accompaniment and loads of quirky ideas brought the show up to date and demonstrated the changes in approach over 50 years.

Boarding the cruise ship SS Pinafore half an hour before departure, the entertainment began in the bar with popular G and S music, the usual draw tickets, programmes, a glass of something and an opportunity for a 'cartoon' photograph as Captain Corcoran or Buttercup. 'Trial' emerged during the first act of Pinafore when Sir Joseph Porter KCB announces himself as a playwright, and commands the company to get the decks ready for a Trial .... in this play wot he wrote! The fun continued ......

foundingfathersoftheirsocietyandperformingG&S.Onethattradionalists (andmaybetheirfounders)would tear their hair out at, but C.O.D.S always like to do something a bit diﬀerent and thisproduction of” H.M.S.Pinafore”combinedwith”Trialby Jury” wasthesortofentertainingandcleverproductionthat CODS dosowellintheirownuniquestyle.

As you entered the foyer you were immediately involved with the show without even realizing it!Asif you were boarding the Pinafore; you had your picture taken; there were crew members millingaround and sea shanty’s being sung .this is what C.O.D.S are so good at doing; making the audiencepart of the whole experience and atmosphere BEFORE the show.

The singing was ﬁrst rate, the clever touches just made the whole thing ﬂow, it was clever andinspired to have Sir Joseph in a wheel chair with a children’s steering wheel and hooter, (a device toenable an experienced actor to perform despite recent hip surgery) to have the judge’s wig madefrom a mop head and the bows of the Pinafore turned around to become a court room were all suchwonderfully good touches that made you realise what thought had gone into this whole show.Thetwomusiciansweresoversatiletheysoundedlikeanorchestra!MargaretChavedidasplendidjobasdid Ian Crew who played so many diﬀerent and unusual musical instruments I thought he may havecome from the sea, having learnt his dexterity from a friendly octopus!

TheDirectorsMikeCanning&PhilWardhavemyheartiestcongratulationsforthinkingoutsidethebox. So much can be done with G&S these days that it can easily go over the top, but not in thisproduction;itwaspitchedjustright.Tosumup“superb”(andveryrareforme)faultless.Anunforgetableevening ofsheer pleasure. Again;well doneC.O.D.S.